Tim Skubick: Why Mike Duggan will run for Detroit mayor rather than Michigan governor

Mike Duggan for governor. The hearts of some Democrats go pitter-patter at the prospects that he might get in. The folks who anoint front-runners would certainly dub him just that if he did.

Mr. Duggan’s resume includes work at the county level, where he fought for truth, justice and the American way as a prosecutor, turned around a failing hospital in Detroit and has solid connections with the business community. In other words he could give Mr. Snyder a run for his money.

But alas it is not to be.

For those of you who think these "he's-not-running" stories are meaningless, here’s your cue to bail out for the sports section. For everybody else who understands that when certain candidates drop out it does carry some cachet for the rest of the race, please continue.

Here’s the inside skinny on the Duggan for Governor boomlet that is not booming or letting.

He is totally focused on running for Mayor of Detroit, as you already know. Look for that major announcement next week. He is telling folks he will not be deterred, even though some have suggested being the mayor of a city operated by a non-elected Emergency Manager is like the U of M b-ball team trying to beat MSU.

Here’s the Duggan calculus on being governor. He’s assuming if he were elected, the Republicans would continue to control the house and/or senate, severely restricting his ability to get anything done. He’s surveyed the redistricting maps written by the R’s and their control is likely for the next 10 years.

Hence he’s concluded: Why bother?

Besides if he wins the mayor’s post, the EM will make all the tough decisions and eventually hand over a solvent city to the mayor, who can then expand on that turnaround. And before his four-year term is over, no one will remember the EM, and Mr. D. can scarf up a lot of the credit for saving Motown.

Then if he wants to run for governor later on, he can.

Of course all this is irrelevant if Detroiters don’t do their part by electing him. And at this read, let’s just say he is not a shoe-in to win this thing, either.

Watch "Off the Record with Tim Skubick" online anytime at video.wkar.org.